Lakeland Church Produces Movie to Reach Out to Biker

Friday

Feb 7, 2014 at 9:29 PM

In the movie "Cross Point," a father spends too much time riding and not enough time with his family.

By ANITA TODDLEDGER CORRESPONDENT

LAKELAND | In the movie "Cross Point," a father spends too much time riding and not enough time with his family.The 26-minute film created by First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland was made to minister and witness to bikers during Bike Week in Daytona Beach, which begins March 7.The church leaders don't think their goal of distributing 8,000 DVDs during Bike Week is anywhere close to a miracle. On Sunday, the request will be made to the congregation, the community and nation to help ensure that goal is met."Cross Point" is also meant to target husbands and fathers in the church, locally and nationally. "The movie is more about relationships than motorcycles," said Buddy Newsome, director and co-founder of F.A.I.T.H. Riders National, a motorcycle ministry at First Baptist. "It's about reminding guys who are not stepping up and being the spiritual leaders of their homes. It's not a point-your-finger kind of thing but an opportunity for men to reflect.""Cross Point" was filmed in various locations throughout Lakeland, including the church, and, for the most part, the cast was made up of professional actors. Senior Pastor Jay Dennis played himself in a couple of scenes, and Newsome was consulted on motorcycle terminology.During Bike Week, F.A.I.T.H. Riders volunteers will distribute the 8,000 copies of the film to bikers who visit one of two church booths. To draw people to the areas, the church is giving away a Harley-Davidson for the fourth year in a row. To be entered in the drawing for the bike, visitors are required to listen to the three-minute testimony of a volunteer."We felt that the movie would give us another tool to get the gospel out," Newsome said. They want to spread the word beyond Daytona as well. "We thought this would be a good conversation starter — a great outreach tool," said Ryan Choate, marketing and communications lead at First Baptist. Choate was the conduit between the Church and NFocus, the Lakeland-based film company that made the movie.During Bike Week, the potential audience is huge, with an estimated 500,000 bikers there for the gathering. With that in mind and prayers on their lips, Dennis; Pastor Mark Bedwell, outreach minister; and Newsome will first approach the 9,000 members of the church to help fund the DVDs for giveaway during Bike Week. Beginning Monday, the community — both locally and nationally — will be given the opportunity to help."We are anticipating 7,500 under our two booths and the other 500 is just in case God has bigger plans," Newsome said. "We have no back-up plan ... just faith.""Cross Point" will debut Sunday at all three Church at the Mall services (8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.). Numerous special packages will be offered to "buy one (or more), send one (or more) to Daytona." One DVD to keep and one DVD to go to Daytona costs $5. A $20 package includes two copies of the DVD, a "Cross Point" mug and four DVDs to go to Daytona. The movie and packages will also be available by visiting the church website at www.ChurchattheMall.com or stop by the church office at 1010 E. Memorial Blvd."Our members are excited about this project and the opportunity to share Christ in a unique way," Bedwell said.